Inspectors have said these areas still need improvement but bosses at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust say they welcome the report which “acknowledges the improvements that have been made”.

The report states that the trust does not have the number of suitably qualified staff required to ensure national ambulance response times are met, but that the service faced a challenge in recruiting the required number of staff.

It also added that people receive good quality care but that the trust had not been able to implement the improvements needed to respond more quickly to people in potentially life-threatening situations.

Trust chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said he is pleased by the progress made at the organisations but admitted there is still more to be done.

Dr Marsh added: “I welcome this report as it shows everyone where we are – the improvements we have made and confirms that the changes we are making will tackle the other areas that need improvement, although this will take time.

“Although I have only been with the Trust for under a month I can clearly see the determination of everyone throughout the service, from the Board to the front line, to succeed and provide the type of service that we all want to see.”

The service recently launched a drive to hire hundreds of student paramedics – an initiative aimed at filling frontline vacancies. So far it has received more than 1,000 responses.